Spain explores trade, investment avenues

Spanish Ambassador Carlos Aragon Gil de la Serna visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI), where he held a meeting with RCCI President Usman Shaukat to discuss opportunities for strengthening bilateral trade, investment, economic cooperation and cultural relations between Pakistan and Spain.

Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Vice President Fahad Barlas, former presidents, executive committee members and a large number of RCCI members were also present. Usman Shaukat highlighted the vast potential for expanding Pakistan-Spain trade and emphasised the need to promote stronger business-to-business linkages, enhance market access and facilitate greater cooperation in investment, technology and innovation.

He noted that Spain offered promising opportunities for Pakistani exporters, particularly in textiles and agro-based products, while Pakistan could benefit from Spanish expertise in modern agriculture, precision farming, irrigation systems, agricultural mechanisation, greenhouse technology and water management.

The meeting assumed added significance in view of recent Pakistan-Spain consultations regarding the establishment of a joint working group on agriculture, which could provide a structured platform for expanding cooperation in the agriculture sector. Pakistan has identified rice, ethanol, potatoes and maize as products with significant potential for increasing exports to the Spanish market, while textiles remained among Pakistan's leading exports to Spain.

Prime Minister's Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, who attended the ceremony as chief guest, along with the RCCI president, presented the Spanish ambassador with a football manufactured in Pakistan for the FIFA World Cup. The gesture highlighted Pakistan's world-class sports manufacturing capabilities and symbolised the growing friendship between the two countries. The ambassador participated in the RCCI's Independence Day celebrations, reflecting the warm people-to-people, cultural and diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Spain.